Drifting object prompts callout for Troon RNLI lifeboats
Drifting object prompts callout for Troon RNLI lifeboats
Lifeboats News Release
At 9.21pm on Sunday 1 June 2025, both Troon RNLI lifeboats were requested to launch by Belfast Coastguard after reports from a member of the public of an orange object, possibly an unoccupied dinghy, floating in the water off Barassie Beach.
RNLI/TroonLifeboat
Troon RNLI all-weather and inshore lifeboats at sea
With the pagers activated, the volunteers made their way to the lifeboat station launching Trent class all-weather lifeboat
RNLB Jim Moffat and D class inshore lifeboat Sheena to locate the object. Ayr Coastguard Rescue Team was also tasked to provide additional assistance from the shore.
After leaving the harbour, the inshore lifeboat crew quickly had sight of the orange object, and it was found to be an unoccupied life raft. In fading light, two crew members, including James Welsh on his first callout on the inshore lifeboat, took to the water and were able to get the life raft onto the beach to carry out a further assessment.
After confirming to Belfast Coastguard it was a life raft, it was established that this matched the description of one had been washed from a yacht off the coast of Troon earlier in the day and the Coastguard had been made aware of the loss.
With no vessels in difficulty and no persons missing, the life raft was left in the care of the Coastguard Team and both lifeboats returned to station where they were made ‘ready for service’ with the assistance of the shore crew.
Troon RNLI Lifeboat Operations Manger Jim Redmond said ‘Thankfully on this occasion locating the unoccupied life raft did not mean that anyone was in difficulty as the yachts crew did the right thing by notifying the Coastguard about its loss preventing what could have been a long search for the lifeboat volunteers.
‘The member of the public on the shore also did the right thing by contacting the Coastguard when they spotted the unknown object in the water.’
Key facts about the RNLI
The RNLI is the charity that saves lives at sea. Its volunteers provide a 24-hour search and rescue service around the United Kingdom and Republic of Ireland coasts. The RNLI operates 238 lifeboat stations in the UK and Ireland and more than 240 lifeguard units on beaches around the UK and Channel Islands. The RNLI is independent of Coastguard and government and depends on voluntary donations and legacies to maintain its rescue service. Since the RNLI was founded in 1824, its lifeboat crews and lifeguards have saved over 146,700 lives.
